Deep purple has become the only band to make India a routine stop on their
Asian tours, and probably among the few international artists to realise the
huge following of different genres of western music in the vastly untapped Indian
market. This was their third show in India and the second one in Bombay. The
pre-show hype was tremendous, and for once the organisation was great. Gates
opened an hour early, and those of us who were devoted enough to brave the hot
evening sun (temperatures in the high 30s) made it to the first row, just a
few feet from the gods of rock themselves.

The set list was the same as that played in Bangalore last year. After a shoddy
opening act, Deep Purple finally arrived on stage at 7.45pm, with the sun set
and the atmosphere much more amicable. First up was in true purple tradition
Woman from Tokyo. The crowd went absolutely nuts, it being one of the hugely
popular Purple tracks. Ian had a video camera which he was using at times to
take shots of the crowd from. The heat was trememdous and it got to Ian a little
fast. He had to change his shirt right in the second song and went through many
more of that and lots of water poured on what would be a mighty wet backstage.

After Woman from Tokyo Ian said the next song is about a wine merchant and
they broke into Ted The Mechanic. The roar from the crowd on hearing the booming
bass was enough to take the roof off - had there been a roof. Roger was throwing
his bass picks into the crowd after every song. I had the luck to catch the
one he threw after Ted.

Following their precious set list, they then went into some of their not so
well known songs - Mary Long and then Lazy. The primary focus of attention at
this show was Steve Morse. He was the singular highlight and played some of
the most awesome solos Indian rock lovers would have ever heard live. Ian Paice
didn't do his trademark solo.

They played a song supposedly inspired by Steve's aviation career, not patently
Purple sound but extremely good. They also played an unrealeased instrumental
called the Well Dressed Guitar. The people loved it. I hope it comes out on
the new record.

The medley they played was similar to the one last year and inculded Sweet
Child O' Mine (Guns N' Roses), an AC/DC track (where Ian tried singing), and
obviously the solo from Stairway To Heaven (Led Zeppelin). After a few songs
which the crowd was not so familiar with, Purple gave us When A Blind Man Cries.

Even nearing 60, these guys had the most awesome energy on stage. Many younger
bands would probably have collapsed with the sheer heat and humidity. Airey
played a wonderful solo when the band took a little break, and included a Mozart
masterpiece.

The band returned with Perfect Strangers. The song was changed a little from
the record version, before the main riff of the song in the chorus. It drove
the crowd into a frenzy.

They played Smoke On The Water which the crowd sang louder than the band, then
came back to play Hush (which Ian said was recorded 100 years ago). After this
the crowd the had the chant of Black Night going, like at a football match,
and the band played it. Paice did some awesome work in the little fills in Black
Night, which was the only time in the show he really took the spotlight.

The final song was Highway Star and it was a fitting climax to the best Deep
Purple gig ever in India. They are now off to Goa, the beach city for their
next gig on the May 5.